Conveying apparatus



Jan. 30, 1962 R. G. KRAMLICH CONVEYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 22, 1959 FIG. 8

INVENTOR. RCHMZD G. KRAMUCH Jan. 30, 1962 R. G. KRAMLICH CONVEYINGAPPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1959 INVENTOR. RICHARD G.KRAMLICH BY/daaa'f Jan. 30, 1962 R. G. KRAMLICH CONVEYING APPARATUSFiled June 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 nf f4,

INVENTOR. HCHARD G. KRAMUCH BVMW 2&2; Mn@

Jan. 30, 1962 R. G. KRAMLICH CONVEYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJune 22, 1959 FIC-L13 INVENTOR. WCHARD GKRAMUCH United States Patent C3,019,057 CONVEYING APPARATUS t Richard Giehl Kramlich, Holrendauqua,Pa., assignor to Fuller Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed June22, 1959, Ser. No. 821,870

11 Claims. (Cl. 302--52) The present invention relates to self-unloadingvessels employing pneumatic unloading means, and is more particularlyconcerned with the control and direction of gas ow in lluidizing vesselsin which the iluidizing gas separating from the material is used toentrain the material adjacent the vessel outlet and to carry it insuspens1on through the outlet.

Prior applications by Robert F. Loomis, Serial No. 678,798, led August19, 1957, now Patent No, 2,891,- 817, June 23, 1959, and Serial No.782,434, iiled December 23, 1958, now Patent No, 2,915,337, December l,1959, disclose substantially closed fluidizing vessels of the type withwhich the present invention is particularly concerned. A copendingapplication by Robert F. Loomis, Serial No. 821,913, iiled concurrentlyherewith, diS- closes a substantially closed iluidizing vessel of thistype having a gas-material discharge outlet intermediate the ends of thevessel yand in the bottom thereof. In these applications, a gas conduitextends from the upper portion of the vessel downwardly to thegas-material outlet, and forms a barrier to unrestricted ilow ofmaterial to the outlet. In each case, the conduits have at least onematerial-delivering opening therein for controlled feeding of materialinto their lower ends, and each of the later-illed applications includeaccelerating means such as a deilecting baille restricting the llow areaof the conduit to accelerate the gas flowing toward the materialentering the lower end of the conduit. However, in some cases, a moredirect control of the gas ow is desirable to accommodate diillcultmaterials or disadvantageous material-receiving apparatus, or both.

In general, the preferred form of the present inven tion, as embodied ina vessel having a discharge outlet in its bottom and intermediate itsends, comprises a substantially closed vessel having iluidizing means inits low er region to deliver material toward the discharge outlet. Aconduit communicating with the upper portion of the vessel extendsdownwardly to the discharge outlet, Which forms the outlet for both gasand material from the vessel. The conduit prevents unrestricted llow ofmaterial from the main portion of the vessel to the gasmaterial outlet,and is provided with at least one material opening to admit a controlledilow of material into its lower end and toward the gas-material outlet.In the region of each such material opening, the conduit is providedwith a deilecting baille sloping in the direction of the opening andforming a gas-accelerating zone or restriction within the conduit.

Gate means are provided for closing oil and regulating the size of thematerial openings, and carry a valve structure arranged to meet andclose with the associated deilecting baille and the adjacent walls ofthe vessel to control the restriction of the accelerating zone of theconduit.

A better understanding of the invention may be derived from thefollowing drawings and description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a vessel embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 of a modilled form of theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view similar to FIG. 3, partly cut 3,019,057- PatentedJan. 30, 1962 away, and on an enlarged scale of a modiiied form ofbaille structure;

FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to FIG. 6 of a further modiiled form ofbaille structure; FIG. 8 is a plan view similar to FIG. 6 of anothe formof baille structure;

FIG. 9 is a View similar `to FIG. l of a further modilied form of theinvention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view on lines 10-10 of FIG. 9; FIG. ll is asectional View on lines 11-11 of FIG. 95; FIG. 12 is a View similar toFIG. l of a different em; bodiment of the invention; FIG. 13 is asectional view on lines 13-13 of FIG.` l2; and FIG. 14 is a sectionalview on lines 14-14 of FIG. 12:. As shown in FIGS. 1 4, referencecharacter 1 desig# nates a horizontally-elongated vessel for the storageof pulverulent material, for example, cement, ilour, alu'- mina,chemicals, and the like.l While the vessel is shown as being ofcylindrical shape, it maybe of any other suitable shape. The vessel maybe stationary, or it maybe mobile and form the body of a railway car,truck or trailer, or may be mounted on other transporting means, Such asskids. A gas-permeable deck 2 extends along the lower por'- tion of thevessel between a pair of slope sheets 3 and 3' and is spaced a slightdistance from the bottom toprof vide a plenum chamber 4 into which gasunder pressure may be introduced through a gas inlet pipe 5. Thegaspermeable deck may be of any suitable material having the requisitegas permeability, but preferably .is made from multiple-ply textilematerial of the nature of heavy canvas conveyor belting. The plenumchamber may be formed by separate walls below and secured against thegas-permeable deck, if desired. The top of the vessel has illlingopenings 6 and 6' which may be sealed by covers 7 and 7', respectively.The bottom of the vessel has a centrally-disposed outlet 8 about which atransition or outlet member 9 is secured. The lower end of the outletmember 9 is adapted to be connected to a conveying conduit 10 throughwhich material discharged from the vessel may be conveyed to the desiredlocation.

The gas-permeable deck slopes downwardly from each end of the vesseltowards the discharge outlet 8, and its lower edge terminates adjacentthe outlet so that pul- Verulent material fluidized in the deck willllow down wardly along its upper surface and toward the outlet;

Batlle walls 11 and 11 are spaced apart several inches and extend fromthe sides of the outlet 8 opposite the end walls of the vessel to aposition near the top of the vessel. The baille walls are substantiallyequal in width to the gas-permeable deck and are positionedsubstantially transversely thereof. l

Where desired, one or both of the baille Walls may take a part of theshape, or substantially the full shape of the cross section of thematerial storage portion of the vessel and individually or together mayextend completely across the vessel to provide separate compartmentscapable of containing and discharging dissimilar materials withoutdanger of contamination.

A pair of intermediate walls 12 and 12 extend between the baille wallsand from the sides of the outlet 8 opposite the side walls of thevessel. The intermediate walls preferably extend the full height of thebaille walls to form a spacing support therebetween, and are secured tothe top wall of the vessel for support of the baille wall andintermediate wall structure.

The baille walls 11, 11 and the intermediate walls 12', 12 are joined attheir adjacent edges and together form a rectangular central gas conduit13 which is vertically aligned with and encloses the discharge outlet 8at its lower end. While a rectangular form of conduit is shown, it is tobe understood that other suitable forms may be employed. The upper edgesof the baie walls 11 and 11' are spaced from the top of the vessel toprovide gas passages 14 and 14', respectively, through which pressuregas in each end of the vessel may ow en route to the discharge outlet 8via the conduit 13.

The lower edges of the baie walls are formed with cut-outs or openings15 and 15' to permit uidized material above the deck to ow therethroughand to pass to the discharge outlet. The area of the openings 15, 15'through which the fluidized material may flow is controlled byvertically reciprocable gates 16 and 16', described more fullyhereinafter, which are mounted against the inside of the baffle walls11, 11'. The gates 16, 16' are held against the bathe walls by the edgesof a pair of guide channels 17 and 17 which are mounted on theintermediate walls 12 and 12', respectively. The guide channels extendupwardly at least to a height sufcient to permit the required gatemovement, and preferably are closed at their upper ends.

A gas-accelerating, deilecting baille 18 of inverted V-shape is securedbetween the faces of the guide channels V17, 17' and joined thereto atits ends. The dellecting baille 18 comprises a pair of sloping walls 19,19' sloping oppositely and downwardly on planes individuallyintersecting the walls 11, 11' adjacent the material openings 15, 15',respectively. The sloping walls 19, 19' terminate 'short of the baillewalls 11, 11' to provide restricted gas passages or openings 2G and 20',respectively, between the dellecting baille 1S, bale Walls 11 and 11'and the guide channels 17, 17'. While a rectangular form of restrictedopenings is preferred, other Vforms may be used if desired. Therestricted openings 20, 20' preferably are equal in area, with eachbeing approximately equal in area to the cross sectional area -of theoutlet `end of the transition member y9 adjacent the conveying line.

Beneath the deiiecting baffle 18, and Secured thereto, a V-shapeddirecting bale 21 comprising a pair of converging walls 22, 22' slopingdownwardly from the lower edges of the sloping walls 19 and 19',respectively, into the outlet member 9, divides the space in the lowerend of the conduit and the upper end of the outlet member into la pairof discharge passageways 23 and 24, respectively, which meet at the apexof the directing baille 21. The directing bae 21 has a port 25 in itslower region to permit equalization of the pressure within the closedspace between the respective batles 18 and 21 with the vpressure'externally thereof.

The gates 16 and 16' each carry on their inner side a V-'shape'd backingplate or valve member 26 and 26', respectively, with veach valve kmemberhaving a wall 27, 27, respectively, secured to the adjacent gate andhaving a sloping wall 28 and 28', respectively, turned toward the centerof the conduit. The sloping walls 28, 28' extend at angles from thewalls 27, 27' above and in a plane parallel to the plane of the slopingvwalls 19, 19', `respectively, and 'form therebetween a pair ofrectangular fg-'as passageways v29, 29', respectively, which terminateat their lower ends in the restricted openings 20 and 20', respectively.vThe areas at the ends of the valve mem bers `between the wall 27 'andsloping wall 28 and between the wall v27 and sloping wall 28' are eachclosed by paired end walls 30 and 30', respectively, which are joined tothe walls of the valve members and positioned in sliding and `sealingrelationship with the Surfaces of 'the yguide-channe`l's17, 17'. Thevalve members '26, 26' Vand deliectingbale walls v19, '19 thus form apair of valves 'operatively coupled to, or responsive to, the respectivegates 16, 16', and 'operable to control the gas Lflow through vtheconduit.

yThe lower edges of the gates 16, 16' preferably ex- 'tend below thebottom edge of the openings 15, l5', when 'fthegates are in a closedposition, including closure of the gas passageways 29 and 29. The valvemembers 26, 26' are adjustably mounted on the gates 16, 16', such as bybolts 31, 31' passing through slots 32, 32', respectively, in the walls27 and 27. With this provision, the lower edges of the valve members 26,26' may be p0- sitioned, with respect to the lower ledges of the gates16, 16', to perrnit adjustment of the air-flow gaps 29, 29' in theclosed position of the gates. The gas passageway 29 is created betweenthe wall 19 of the deflecting bale and the sloping Wall 27, when thegate 16 is initially moved toward open position, and the similar gaspassageway 29' is created by initial opening motion of the gate 16'. Thegas passageways are aligned, in the direction of air ow therethrough,with the material opening and direct the accelerated gas stream againstmaterial entering the conduit through the material openings.

The gates 16, 16 each carry a pair of racks such as roller-chain racks33, 34 and 33', 34', respectively, which are secured to the gates bysuitable mounts 35 and are engaged by individual sprocket pinions 36, 37and 36', 37' which are non-rotatably mounted on shafts 38 and 38',respectively. The shafts 38 and 38' are each mounted in a pair of spacedbearings 39 and 39', respectively, which are secured to the intermediatewalls.v

Where 'the valve members 26 are adjustable with respect to the gates 16,16', the walls 27, 27' may be slotted to accommodate the mounts 35 ofthe roller-chain racks. Adjacent each of the intermediate walls, theends of the shafts 38, 38' are fitted with lock collars 40 and 40' andwith washers 41, and 41', respectively. The ends of the shafts 38 and38' extending through the intermediate wall 12' continue beyond 'theintermediate wall and through openings in the slope sheet 3 and thevessel wall so that they may be operated from the exterior of the vesselby suitable .handles 42, 42' or other means. A pair of diverting slopesheets 43 and 43' divert material from the space between theintermediate walls 12, 12' and the slope sheets 3 and 3', respectively,,and the diverting slope sheet 43 encloses the portion ofthe shafts 38,38' extended toward the vessel wall.

A pair of packed fittings 44 and 44' permit .extension of the shaftsthrough the vessel Wall while preventing gas leakage therethrough. The'ttings 44, 44' preferably are made adjustable to exert enoughfrictional force to vhold the shafts and the associated gates 16, 16' inany pre-set position, such as Lby provision of .a packing Lscrew or nut.

In operation, gas under suitable pressure, usually compressed air from aconventional blower, not shown, is .def livered through the gas inletpipes S, plenum chambers /4 and the gas-permeable deck 2 to fluidizepulverulent material in the vessel. One of the gates, for example theleft-hand gate 16, as viewed in FIG. l, is vmoved in the openingdirection by means of thehandle 42 and the rack and pinion drive aLdistance `only sufficient to open the associated Agas passageway 29without permitting the lower edge of the gate'to expose any portion ofthe material opening 15. This position of the gate 16 is shown by thedotted outline AL Opening one of the gas vpassageways 29 establishes an'initial flow of the gas separating from the iluidized material andpassing as a stream through the gas passages 14, 14 above the bafflewalls 11, 11 and downwardly through the conduit 13, the outlet member 9and the conveying line 10.

When the Agas stream is thus established, thegate 16 is opened furtherto expose the desired area of the associated material opening 15. Theuidized material inthe left-hand end of the vessel then flows throughthe exposed area of the material opening 15 into the `lower end of theconduit 13 and Vtoward the outlet 8. Simultaneously, the gas streamflowing downwardly through the conduit 13 is accelerated, in passinglthrough vthe restricted area of the gas passageway v29 adjacent theopened gate, and is ldirected against the material entering the conduit.The accelerated gas stream meets the incoming material at a substantialangle of incidence and slightly in opposition to the direction ofmaterial flow, causing a high degree of turbulence which agitates thematerial and facilitates its entrainment in the gas stream. The materialthus entrained is carried through the adjacent discharge passageway 23and the remainder of the outlet member 9 into the conveying line 10.

f `When the left-hand end of the vessel is emptied of material,including a substantial amount of material which will flow from theopposite or right-hand end of the vessel and around the conduit to thegate 16, as the material level in the left-hand end is reduced, the gate16 is closed and the gate 16 is opened to permit similar unloading ofthe remaining portion of the vessel.

If desired, both ends of the vessel may be unloaded simultaneously byopening both gates 16, 16 at the same time.

When only one gate 16, 16' is opened suiciently to permit material ilow,the other gate may be partially opened, for example, up to the height ofposition A of FIG. l, to permit a ilow of gas through the gas passageway29 or 29' formed thereby, thereby permitting a tuning of the air flowbetween the respective gas passageways 29, 29 and discharge passageways23, 24 to obtain optimum mixing.

In cases in which the vessel is to be used only for storing anddischarging the same type of material, or when desired for any reason,the directing baffle 21 may be eliminated, and the tuning function ofthe gas passageways 29, 29 relied upon alone. However, the directingbaille 21 is considered to be of particular advantage for mobilevessels, such as a highway truck or trailer, which may be required tohandle a variety of materials, or may ultimately be resold ortransferred to a service carrying material other than that for which itwas originally designed and sold.

The present invention permtis a pre-pressurizing of the vessel, beforematerial delivery is started, since the gas passageways 29, 29' may beonly partially opened or may be temporarily closed-olf to build up apressurized volume of air in the upper region of the vessel. Thepresence of this pressurized volume of air, before material delivery isstarted, is particularly advantageous for large vessels and vesselsdischarging to long conveying lines.

Ordinarily, when a conveying line from a vessel of this general type iscompletely clear and has only air flowing therethrough from the vessel,there is not enough pressure drop or ow resistance present to cause fullpressure to be developed in the vessel. When material delivery is thenstarted, the presence of the material in the conveying line causes asubstantial resistance and pressure drop, momentarily reducing thevolumetric flow of air from the vessel. This reduction of air liowcontinues until the vessel can be brought up to full pressure by thecontinued delivery of air through the gas-permeable deck and through thematerial. This momentary reduction of air flow and consequentlyinadequate velocity in the conveying line during the critical firstmoments of material delivery tends to cause line plugging, particularlyin large vessels, whose larger volumes require more total air and acorrespondingly longer delay period in order to be brought up topressure, and for long conveying lines, which impose greater pressureson the system.

The present invention substantially eliminates this critical delay. Whenpre-pressurizing is desired, only one of the gas passageways 29, 29' isopened and only to a slight degree, thereby imposing a highdow-resistance which permits the pressurizing of the vessel interior,while simultaneously establishing the initial gas stream. As the gate isthen opened farther to admit material, the volumetric ow rate of the gasis increased by the widening of the gas passageway 29 or 29 and is morethan adequate to convey the material. In these pre-pressurizingapplications, it is preferable to have the valve members adjusted to alow position with respect to the lower edge of the gate. Forpre-pressurizing, the desired gap setting of the gas passageways 29, 29'should be obtained when the lower edge of the gate 16, 16 is just belowthe lower edge of the opening 15, 15. Then, when the gate is raised toadmit material, the pressurized volume of gas in the upper portion ofthe vessel will not be lost by excessive initial release or ow throughthe simultaneously increased gas passageway 29 or 29. Where the Vesselis to be pre-pressurized, or otherwise if desired, safety means may beprovided such as a pressurerelief or safety valve, not shown.

As shown in FIG. 5, in which similar numerals, sufxed a, denotestructure similar to that of FIG. l, a full baille wall 50 extendscompletely across and divides the material Stora ge portion of thevessel.

The operation of the modified vessel of FIG. 5 is simila-r to that ofthe vessel of FIGS. 1 to 4. However, the divided vessel of FIG. 5permits the separate storage and discharge of different materialswithout objectionable contamination therebetween.

Further modified forms of baffle structure are shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8in which numerals similar to those of FIG. 5, suiiixed aj b, and c,respectively, are used to identify similar elements. In FIG. 6, both afull ebaille S0 and a second full baffle 51 extend fully across thematerial storage portion of the vessel. In FIG. 7, a single, full baffle51 abuts the side walls of the conduit. In FIG. 8, the baflle 50 and 51each extend only half the width of the vessel and to opposite sid-esthereof.

The operation of the vessels of FIGS. 6 to 8 is similar to that of thevessel of FIG. 5.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, in whichsimilar numbers, sutlixed b, denote elements similar to the elements ofFIG. 1. In these iigures, the substantially closed vessel 1b has itsoutlet 8b in an end wall 55 thereof, and the conduit 13b is adjacent andpartially formed by the same end wall 55. The conduit has one materialopening 15b opposite the end wall 55, and is otherwise generally similarto the conduit 13 of FIG. 1. A right angle drive 56 is provided on thegate shaft 381: to permit a control shaft 57 to extend through the endof the vessel. Suitable guides 58 and 58 are provided for the side edgesof the gate.

The operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 9 to ll is similar to that ofthe vessel of FIGS. 1 to 4, except that all material is necessarilydischarged through the single opening 15b and through the lower end ofthe conduit and to the outlet. The handle `4t2/9, control shaft 57 andright angle drive 56 are used to operate the shaft 38h of the gate 16bas is the handle 42 and equivalent structure of the vessel of FIG. l.

A further modied form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, inwhich similar numbers, suliixed c, denote elements similar to those ofthe vessel of FIGS. 1 to 4. As shown in these figures, the conduit 13eis arranged in substantially the longitudinal center of the vessel andis offset into the slope sheet 3'@ at one side of the continuous,longitudinal, gas-permeable deck 2c. The material opening 15e in theconduit is positioned adjacent the edge of the deck 2c, and the lateraldischarge outlet 8c is opposite the opening 15e. The outlet member 9cextends outwardly from the side of the vessel. A right angle drive 60 isprovided on the gate shaft 33C to permit a control shaft 61 to extendthrough the side of the vessel, and suitable guides 62 and 62' areprovided for the side edges of the gate. Diverting slope sheet 43cencloses the portion of the control shaft 61 exposed between the channeland the slope sheet 3c.

The operation of the vessel of FIGS. 12 to 14 is the same as that of thevessel of FIG. l, except that all the material is necessarily dischargedthrough the single opening 15e into the lower end of the conduit andtoward the lateral outlet.

Various changes may be made in the details of the invention as disclosedherein without sacrificing the advantages or departing from the scopethereof as set forth in Ythe appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for discharging pulverulent material cornprising a vesselhaving an inlet for pulverulent material and a .discharge outlet in alower portion thereof, a gaspermeable deck in the lower region of thevessel, means for passing a gas :under pressure upwardly through thedeck -to fluidize `overlying material, the vessel being substantiallyclosed to the escape of gas and material except through the dischargeoutlet, a gas conduit in the vessel communicating with the upper portionof the vessel and its lower end enclosing the discharge outlet, theconduit having a material opening at one side thereof positioned toreceive fluidized material into the lower end of the conduit, a gate atthe material opening for regulating the flow of uidized materialtherethrough, valve means for regulating the ow of gas through saidconduit and permitting the vessel to be pressurized prior to delivery ofmaterial into the lower end of the conduit, said valve means beingpositioned in said conduit upstream, relative to the direction of gasflow through said conduit, of the lower portion of the material opening.in said conduit, and -means for actuating said valve means to permitflow of gas through the conduit in response to opening of the gate.

2. Apparatus as set 'forth in claim 1 including means for delayingdelivery of material through the material opening until la ow of gas isestablished through the conduit and .the discharge outlet.

3. Apparatus for discharging pulverulent material comprising a vesselhaving an inlet for pulverulent material and a discharge outlet in alower portion thereof, a gaspermeable deck in the lower region of thevessel, means for passing a gas under pressure upwardly through the deckto fluidize overlying material, the vessel being substantially closed tothe escape of gas and material except through the discharge outlet, agas conduit in the vessel ycommunicating with the upper portion of thevessel and lof material into the lower end of the conduit, said valvemeans being positioned in said conduit upstream, relative to thedirection of gas ow through said conduit, of the i lower portion of thematerial opening in said conduit and also being positioned adjacent tosaid material opening and, when opened, defining an accelerating gaspassage longitudinally aligned with a portion of the material opening.

4. Apparatus Vfor discharging pulverulent material comprising :a vesselhaving an inlet for pulverulent material, a gas-permeable deck in thelower region of the vessel, means for passing a'gas under pressureupwardly through the deck to -uidize overlying material, the vesselhaving a discharge outlet and being lsubstantially Iclosed to the escapeof gas and material except through said discharge outlet, a gas conduitin the vessel communicating with the upper portion of the vessel and atits lower end enclosing the discharge outlet, the `conduit having amaterial opening at one side thereof to permit flow of fluidizedmaterial into the lower end ofthe conduit, a gate at the .materialopening for regulating the `flow of uidized material therethrough, adeflecting baie within the conlduit and forming at least in part arestricted gas passage in the region of the vmaterial opening, and valvemeans for `closing the restricted gas passage.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4in which said valve means comprisesa valve member carried by said gate.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the defleeting baillecomprises a wall sloping downwardly toward the material opening, thegate is vertically reciprocable, and the valve member comprises asloping wall overlying and parallel to the sloping wall of the deectingbaffle, the parallel sloping walls of the valve member and deflectingbaffle forming at least in part an accelerating gas passageway alignedin the direction of gas flow therethrough with the material opening. l

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which the valve member iscarried by the gate to close with the deflecting vbaffle and the loweredge of the gate extends a substantial distance below the lower edge ofthe material opening in the closed position of the gate, wherebyexposure of the material opening for delivery of uidized material intothe lower end of the conduit is delayed until a ow of gas is establishedthrough the conduit and the discharge outlet.

8. Apparatus for discharging pulverulent material com prising ahorizontally-elongated vessel having an inlet for pulverulent material,a gas-permeable deck in the lower region of the vessel, means forpassing a gas under pressure upwardly through the deck to liuidizeoverlying material, the vessel having a discharge outlet in its bottomintermediate the ends thereof and being substantially closed to theescape of gas and material except through the discharge outlet, a gasconduit communicating with the upper portion of the vessel and at itslower end enclosing the discharge outlet, the conduit having a pair ofmaterial openings in different sides thereof for receiving fluidizedmaterial into the lower end of the conduit, agate at each materialopening to regulate the flow of uidized material therethrough, adefiecting bathe within the conduit and at least partly forming a pairof restricted gas passages each adjacent a material opening, and `meansfor closing the restricted gas passages independently of each other.

9, Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which the deiiecting oafecomprises a pair of walls each sloping downwardly toward a materialopening, and including a directing bafe comprising a pair of wallsextending downwardly Afrom the lower Vedges of the deflecting bafflewalls Iand converging with each other.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which the gates are verticallyreciprocable, the deflecting baffle comprises a pair of walls eachsloping downwardly toward a material opening, and the vaive membercomprises a sloping wall above and parallel to the adjacent wall of thedeecting baille, the respective parallel walls ,of the valve member andof the deecting baivrle Yforming at least in part an accelerating gaspassageway adjacent and aligned in the direction .of gas ow therethroughwith the associated material opening.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 including a directing baffle.closing the space between the lower edges of the defiecting .bafflewalls, .said directing baie forming at least in part with the lower endof the conduit -a pair of discharge passageways.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,565,835 Adams Aug. 28, 195,1 2,734,782 Galle Feb. 14, 6 2,915,338Loomis Dec. '1, .1959 2,924,489 Beckmann Peb. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS751,162 Great Britain 'June'27, 1956

